Your rugby morning headlines for Sunday, August 28.
Cheika fires back at Foster
Argentina boss Michael Cheika has fired back at his All Blacks counterpart Ian Foster.
The latter accused Los Pumas of engaging in some dark arts at the breakdown during their historic 25-18 win in Christchurch on Saturday morning. Specifically, the under fire New Zealand head coach bemoaned Argentina's perceived refusal to roll away from the tackle area and release tackled players on the floor.
Cheika, though, found irony in the comments
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He said: "Well, he would be an expert on it because his team does it all the time, so he should know. Maybe he’s right, I dunno.
"I thought New Zealand were OK at the ruck, they recycled a lot of ball quickly. So, I thought we had parity in that area, they got a few steals, we got a few. I thought the ruck work across the whole game was quite good, because there was not a lot of actual opportunities to get on to the ball.”
A forlorn Foster remains under serious pressure, having lost three consecutive games on home soil and four defeats in six matches this year. Cheika also praised the work Scott Robertson - the heavy favourite to take Foster's job should he get the axe - has done with Argentina back-rower Pablo Matera at the Crusaders.
Aussie branded 'a disgrace'
Australia scrum-half Nic White has been called a 'disgrace' and told to apologise for his actions during the Wallabies' impressive 25-17 win over South Africa on Saturday.
In the 39th minute, the No.9 went down after catch a glancing blow to the face from a swinging Faf de Klerk hand. The contact did not appear to be significant but White hit the deck and referee Paul Williams saw enough in it to show the Springbok a yellow card.
Predictably, his action have not gone down too well in South Africa.
Former fly-half Butch James commented: “It’s a disgrace to the game of rugby that a player [Nic White] can behave like that.”
South African broadcaster Derek Alberts also called on White to apologise, referring to an incident that saw Bryan Habana go down a little too easily after a hit from Owen Farrell in a European Cup match once. Habana later apologised for his actions.
Alberts tweeted: "Bryan Habana once issued an apology for going down after taking this “hit” from Owen Farrell. I can’t wait for Nic White’s essay."
Former Springbok coach Nick Mallet, though, had a slightly different take. He said: “What is Faf trying to do though? You can’t knock the ball out of a scrumhalf’s hands, you’re not allowed to. He’s not tackling the guy so what on earth is he doing. I mean it’s stupid enough to have a swinging arm, and he opened himself up to that.”
Former Worcester boss calls for administration
Former Worcester Warriors chief executive Jim O'Toole has called on the club to be placed into administration as he bids to take over the organisation.
O'Toole is one of a number of parties who have declared an interest in purchases the stricken club, who are in financial difficulties after an unpaid tax bill, believed to be circa £6 million, emerged.
In a statement, O'Toole said he had submitted a proposal to the DCMS regarding the future of Worcester Warriors.
He added: "This includes a commitment to multi-year operational funding and to meeting the repayment of the long-term government loan.
"The success of this proposal is dependent on the relevant entities being placed immediately into administration, which we have encouraged the DCMS to implement."
Read more:
Astonishing try-saving tackle leaves commentators in disbelief but sparks debate
New Zealand beaten by Argentina at home as historic defeat rocks All Blacks
Australia v South Africa incident sparks outrage as Nic White accused of 'killing rugby's soul'
What's become of the players you'd forgotten played rugby for Wales
